Help for Gladstone to prepare for coastal hazards and sea level rise

The Palaszczuk Government is providing Gladstone Regional Council with an initial grant of $47,000 for the Gladstone Regional Council to develop a Coastal Hazard Adaptation Strategy (CHAS).

Member for Gladstone Glenn Butcher said the money is part of the Palaszczuk Government’s $12 million QCoast2100program.

“The program helps communities understand and prepare for coastal erosion and storm tide inundation hazards and the emerging threat of sea level rise caused by climate change,” Mr Butcher said.

“The council will use the funding to carry out the first two phases of their CHAS and will focus on specific areas at risk, including environmental, industrial and residential areas, community infrastructure and places of cultural importance.

Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef Leeanne Enoch said the funding means Council can carry out a broad assessment of coastal hazards in these areas and identify assets at risk as well as examining management options to keep the community safe.

“Engagement and education of the community is an important part of the project to ensure people have a role in shaping the response to this significant issue,” Minister Enoch said.

“Gladstone Regional Council intends to complete the initial phases of their CHAS by June 2019 and joins 30 other Councils that have already been awarded funding.”

“The Palaszczuk Government accepts the science on climate change.  Unlike the Federal Government we are already working to help our local governments and communities to plan and better respond to forthcoming impacts from the changing climate”.

The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) is administering the QCoast2100program and helping councils with the development of their projects.

LGAQ President Mark Jamieson said the QCoast2100 program is designed to be accessible to coastal local governments irrespective of their current level of planning, capability and resourcing.

“More than half of Queensland’s 77 councils will be exposed to coastal hazards in the future,” Mr Jamieson said.

“It’s vital that local governments work together to assess risks and identify practical solutions that will help coastal communities prepare for serious issues such as storm tide inundation, coastal erosion and sea level rise from climate change.” 

ENDS

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